A new day, a day to forget the embarrassing defeat against Atletico de Madrid resulting in the elimination of AC Milan in the Champions League. Time to archive the lost and start all over. Champions League Round of 16 Second
Leg against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday 11 March 2014 at the Vicente
Calderon Stadium in Madrid, Spain: Atletico Madrid 4 – 1 AC Milan
AC Milan coach Clarence Seedorf re-energizing the players. Players resume training at their hotel in Madrid this
morning at 11.00. The players on the pitch last night warmed down in the
gym while the rest of the squad did some stretching and muscular work.
The team will return to Milan this afternoon.
Here are the declarations of AC Milan midfielder Andrea Poli after losing the Champions League Round of 16 Second
Leg against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday 11 March 2014 at the Vicente
Calderon Stadium in Madrid, Spain: Atletico Madrid 4 – 1 AC Milan
AC MILAN MIDFIELDER ANDREA POLI
“It’s a shame as we conceded immediately
once the game started. We’re were playing well at 1-1 and then there was
that own goal. It’s a bad day for all of us. After 2-1 they overcame
us, especially in the second half. When you lose 4-1, you can’t talk
about good individual performances. We were in trouble for a lot of the
game. I want to start again from that 20-30 minutes in the first half
when we were at 1-1. We’ll get back on our feet, starting from tomorrow
and analyze the positives and the negatives from the match. Now we have
11 games left and we want to win them all to end the season in the best
way possible. This was a good chance here this evening but we didn’t
take it. Now we have to get back on our feet as soon as we can. The
start of the match was bad and we can’t deny that. After we got to 1-1,
it was more balanced and then we let in an unlucky goal that cut us off
at the legs a bit. We have to start back from those 20-30 minutes when
we were playing at their level”.
Here are the declarations of AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati after losing the Champions League Round of 16 Second
Leg against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday 11 March 2014 at the Vicente
Calderon Stadium in Madrid, Spain: Atletico Madrid 4 – 1 AC Milan
AC Milan Goalkeeper CHRISTIAN ABBIATI
“It was a particular game and we’ve taken
steps back with respect to recent performances. We didn’t play well in
Udine and tonight we definitely too another step back. We knew it
wouldn’t be easy and after Ricardo got the equalizer, we crushed them.
It was a shame about their second goal as the deviation put it right in
the corner. It’s disappointing to go out of the Champions League like
this and we have to recharge our batteries as on Sunday we’ll be up
against a team that’s playing well. Now it’s very important to focus on
the league as we have 11 games ahead of us. From here to the end of the
season, all us players will be under examination. All of us have to show
that we’re able to wear this jersey”.
It’s a nightmare and crude reality for AC Milan after elimination of the UEFA Champions League. Here are the declarations of AC Milan Coach Clarence Seedorf after losing the Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday 11 March 2014 at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid, Spain: Atletico Madrid 4 – 1 AC Milan
AC Milan Coach CLARENCE SEEDORF “We’ve played some
big games in the last few weeks and we’ve nothing to show for it. That
kills the ability to react. There was no grit in the second half. Our
fans have definitely suffered for too long but I’m sure they have black
and red hearts and when someone falls, they have to get back up. The
players are working with commitment and they’re trying to get out of
this situation. From my part, from tomorrow, I’ll be working with
strength and enthusiasm to get their spirits back up as Parma will be
the first of 11 games from here to the end of the league and we’ll have
to do well to end the season the best we can. It’s over now and we have
to react. We have to look to the match against Parma and find the
strength to get back on our feet as life teaches us. I believe that we
tried to get the best out of ourselves in this match. We played a great
game against Atletico in the first leg and we knew it would be difficult
to come here but we had to play it. Now we have to play as well as we
can for the remaining 11 matches in the league and then start thinking
about next season. All players will be important from here to the end.
We need courage, strength to fight and we have to stick together to the
end”.
“In
the second half they created a lot and we didn’t react. They played
better, all credit to them and the best of luck for the rest of the
competition.
I didn’t see any problems between Balotelli and Pazzini,
I was focused on other aspects of the match. We have 11 matches left to
play in the league and Balotelli remains fundamental for us. When you
win, you win together and it’s the same when you lose. It0s not anyone
one single player’s fault.
Even if a single player doesn’t have the
best evening of his life, that doesn’t mean the team can’t do well all
the same. This evening, that’s the way it went. In the second half in
particular, we struggled a lot. The second goal killed our ability to
react. We fought, we tried but we couldn’t do it. We played some good
matches this month, but continually chasing the game, we ran out of
energy. Then we conceded one of those goals. Now we have to try and pull
the best out of ourselves. At this moment, the players couldn’t give
any more than they did, both physically and mentally.
I’m used to
getting back up when I fall. We lost a game against a big team that
deserved to win. From tomorrow though, myself and the players will be
right back to work trying to do better and to grow”.
It’s a crucial game. AC Milan failing the challenge, the great mission to defeat Atletico de Madrid to qualify for the Champions League Quarterfinals and now are eliminated. A sold out at the Vicente Calderon Stadium reporting about 53,000 attendance. It was an uphill battle because Milan lost the Round of 16 First Leg in San Siro: AC Milan 0 – 1 Atletico de Madrid, Wednesday 19 February 2014. Simply put, Atletico Madrid writing history and scoring an aggregate result of 5-1.
Action during the game…….
Players warming up…… closeup now for players making their way to the pitch while my heart is beating faster and faster…. surely, I am rooting for AC Milan!
No way! I am just fainting… This is not possible. Atletico de Madrid opening the score in the 3rd minute!!!! A nightmare!!! An assist by midfielder Koke to forward Diego Costa defeating AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati with a left footed shot in the bottom left corner. Mamma mia! Abbiati cannot believe it and just look at the ball to send it back. Costa running to celebrate while players hugging each other and I am just crying! Forza Milan, come on!
Referee Mark Clattenburg gives the first yellow card of the match in the 4th minute to Atletico de Madrid forward Raul Garcia for a foul on AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli.
In the 7th minute a yellow card to AC Milan defender Adil Rami for a foul on Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa.
YES!!!! Siam venuti fin qua per vedere segnare Kaka’ ohhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! Guys, Kaka’ equalizing the score in the 27th minute!!! The action started by AC Milan midfielder Andrea Poli from the right to send the assist…. Kaka’ running so fast to reach the ball while Atletico Madrid defender Francisco attempts to clear. Yet, nothing to do as Kaka’ running faster and there you go the headed goal defeating Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Kaka’ almost falling, but immediately lifting his eyes to the sky to thank the Lord!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOO Not again! Come on!!!! A right footed goal by midfielder Arda Turan in the 40th minute defeating goalkeeper Abbiati in the bottom right corner!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The assist by Raul Garcia…
Hello!!! In the 44th minute, Arda almost scoring!! An assist by Koke to Turan smacking a left footed shot this time saved by Abbiati in the center!
First half ending 44% ball possession Atletico de Madrid and 56% ball possession AC Milan
Second half starting with AC Milan making the first substitution in the 45th minute.
Forward Robinho replacing midfielder Adel Taarabt. Clearly, Seedorf wanting to reinforce the attack.. let’s hope for the goals to come!
Time running by…. only 30 more minutes!
In the 63rd minute, Abbiati saving the headed shot by Mirande in the center!…. Milan cannot allow more goals!
AC Milan making a substitution in the 69th minute. Forward Giampaolo Pazzini replacing midfielder Michael Essien.
No wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!! Chaos!!!!!! Atletico Madrid scoring in the 71st minute with Raul Garcia jumping high enough for the headed goal despite the stretch by goalkeeper Abbiati in the bottom left corner. The long right footed assist made by Koke …. what a night!
Atletico Madrid making a substitution in the 72nd minute replacing forward Raul Garcia with midfielder Jose Sosa. Garcia leaving the pitch among the applause of the fans…..
Say no more!!! AC Milan are just eliminated …. Atletico de Madrid scoring the 4th goal of the match in the 85th minute with Diego Costa being the verdugo for the Rossoneri. Curtain call….. a sad day for AC Milan and Italian football fans…..
Here is ATLETICO DE MADRID official starting lineup by coach Diego Simeone:
Atlético Madrid (4-4-1-1): Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Filipe Luís; Arda Turan, Gabi, Mario Suárez, Koke; Raúl García, Diego Costa.
Here is AC MILAN official starting lineup by coach Clarence Seedorf:
AC Milan (4-2-3-1): Abbiati; Abate, Rami, Bonera, Emanuelson; Essien, De Jong; Taarabt, Poli, Kaká; Balotelli.
Top scorers for Atletico Madrid: Diego Costa with 5 goals
AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli with 2 goals